As we reported yesterday, Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died tragically after crashing during a training run at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. New reports following investigations cite that the track is not at fault for the luger’s death that cast a somber cloud over the Opening Ceremony–though concerns regarding the track were voiced prior to the incident.
But the International Luge Federation and Vancouver Olympic officials said their investigation showed that the crash was the result of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track.”
In a joint statement they said Kumaritashvili was late coming out of the next-to-last turn and failed to compensate. “This resulted in a late entrance into curve 16 and although the athlete worked to correct the problem, he eventually lost control of the sled, resulting in the tragic accident.”–FanHouse
While the track may not have caused the actual accident, what about the design’s impact on the injuries that resulted in his death? “Preventative measures” are being taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and lugers have been allowed extra practice rounds this morning. However, it is a bit alarming that people raised concerns for MONTHS regarding how technically difficult the course is and the limited practice times teams would have to become acquainted with it. In addition, there were problems with it during competitions last year.
But the accident is simply “human error” and bad luck. I haven’t received my internet certification for Luge Track Expert in my email yet, but judging by the pictures of the accident site it looks treacherous. Those exposed steel beams look like a) they’d be easy to hit, and b) they’d fold someone in half the wrong way–why weren’t they padded? Since Kumaritashvili’s accident was during a training run, I think it’s tough to say that more practice on the track would have prevented this. It’s really unfortunate that a world-class athlete had to die in order for preventative measures to be taken, regardless of whether or not it was his or the track’s fault. If one thing is for certain it’s that all eyes will be on that ill-fated turn 16 once the races are finally underway.
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